Drought in Australia, brings the Farmer to the load limit News

large parts of Australia have been suffering for five years under drought. Many farmers are fighting for their existence and despair. Around the farms relies on self-help.

By Lena Bodewein, ARD Studio Singapore

The rescue of the farmers will be organized at the coffee. The ladies of the Country Women's Association (CWA), the country women's Association, sitting together at the Feathers Café in Coonnabarabran, seven hours drive from Sydney, in the country's interior. Fay Chapman grabs a letter. "Thank you for your help", it says, "the food basket, the shopping, and everything else - we appreciate it very much. God bless you!"

Farmer, the need Hampers? Acts surprising. But, of course, a nod to the rural women. If you have no money, you have to eat something, they say. And because your help comes in action.

The rural women collect donations, food or money, distribute shopping credit, a voucher for a haircut or just for a Cup of coffee - things that can no longer afford to pay the farmer women otherwise. Because you have only one fight: for Survival. And they operate a kind of table for the Farmer. Here there are mineral water, potatoes, canned goods, Breakfast cereal, UHT milk, fruit, shower gel, toothpaste, sanitary napkins - all in vain

helps to endure, reported by Kay Jordan. But the most important thing is water. the "We need to soak our cattle. But all the dams and water holes are dry. We have cattle to sell, the Rest to get through, we go into debt so we can feed them. But without water ..."

Almost all burned by the sun: the fields in The area of Coonnabarabran already have a long time no more rain.

food and water be a drain on the Savings to

In the fields, nothing grows, brown dust blowing there, where a few years ago full Ears of corn in the Wind rocked them, and the sheep nibble stubbornly to the dry grass, the cows were gathered around the only tree which provides in the blazing heat of 40 degrees the shade. With water tanks and oat straw bales for the Farmer are on the road every day, thousands of dollars on for food and water. If you can afford it, invest in a fountain that taps into the natural underground water storage. Those who can't afford it, in the hope that it will rain one day, however, remains.

Kay Jordan sounds evocative and factually at the same time. "We will survive! We need to Yes, the country Farmer needs. We are the backbone of Australia! Without farmers there is no food!"

The Emergency power mute

all The more sad by the sight of the farmers, the need to get food from the table. A man takes two packs of toasted bread, but in his Situation he does not want to tell. This is a Problem with this drought crisis: The women are more open to one another, the CWAs, the country women's associations, to support and to give support. But a lot of men eat their frustrations in.

depression are widespread, the climb rates of murder. That's why there are projects such as "Mate helping Mate", mate helping mate. On a CD of John Harper of his own experience with depression tells of how he, a proud Farmer, "from the black animal was bitten" and over it came. At the beginning he didn't talked about it. "But when I saw that my neighbor caved in the same direction as I was, I thought: He is my buddy, we help each other."

Frank John of his Fears, tells of his aggression, that he could not sleep with his wife, that his children were afraid of him, and what has helped him to get out of this hole. If you want to prevent depression and suicide, in addition to over it again and again: "to rely on your buddy, you can trust them."

The herd is smaller

On his Farm, about ten miles outside of Coonabarabran, Marty Kramer, project Confidence and must admit that the past two years were "extremely hard". Earlier, he had 2000 sheep, now there are only 1000. Marty had to reduce the inventory drastically. It is hardly new lambs had been born - and if they, had been weakened, many of the ewes so that they died at birth.

A sad but common phenomenon of drought. So many lambs are raised as orphans, without the warmth of a mother. The country women began to knit for you a sweater, a women's magazine printed a knitting pattern, and since then a spin from all over the world warming Swabs for orphan lambs. After that, the country women from photos with the sweaters have lamb, a calendar designed, you can in turn sell for good purpose. In every possible way the people on the Land grab under the arms, in these times.

This sweater to donate heat to the action of rural women was a success.

The young lambs who grow up without a mother, help you in the first few months.

donations for straw

On the Highway that passes through Coonabarabran, often Trucks, the animal feed, "Buy a Bale" is the name of the action, when the people of a bale of oat straw pay. And the truckers donate their time and fuel and bring the bales across the country to come here Mabel Mancer of the country, women told.

No money and no rain also means no seeding. For the first Time in fifty years, it had not been some of the farmers possible, a seed, in admixture, telling the country's women, meanwhile, pursue to Customize a heat wave the next

hope

But, says Brenda Young, everywhere in the world, the climate is more extreme, hotter, colder, drier, wetter. "And we need to see what we change and how we need to adapt."

On the Farm Marty hopes that despite all the obstacles, one of his sons is following in his footsteps. Otherwise, it'll probably do someone different. As he swallows, his optimism is lost. A life style that the family has for generations, it is hard to give lost. "And then someone can enjoy a different life in the country."

These and other reports you will hear on Sunday in the "Echo of the world" at 13: 30 on NDR Info.

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